AN INTERNATIONAL team of researchers yesterday called on governments to support efforts to develop a more effective vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease.

AN INTERNATIONAL team of researchers yesterday called on governments to support efforts to develop a more effective vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease.

Millions of animals could be needlessly slaughtered and billions of pounds lost from economies unless the world backs an international research project, say leading scientists.

The team say a better vaccine and improved diagnostic tests will enable livestock disease control agencies to isolate and eventually eliminate the disease.

The UK's Institute for Animal Health has teamed up with scientists from Canada, the USA and Australia in calling for international funding for a five-year project.

The institute's Dr David Paton said available vaccines can protect animals from becoming sick but not from becoming infected with the FMD virus. They also require several days to give protection.

"In five years we aim to deliver more effective FMD vaccines and sophisticated diagnostic tests which will ensure a longer duration of immunity and that vaccinated animals are not confused with infected animals," said Dr Paton.

"Vaccination would then become a more acceptable option for control of an outbreak in traditionally disease-free areas, like Europe.

"This would mean that, instead of having to slaughter millions of animals simply because they are suspected of being infected, a vaccination programme could be an alternative method of controlling the spread of the disease."

John Osmond, director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, agreed with the research team that foot-and-mouth was a global problem requiring a global solution.

"Anything that suggests international collaboration to address the issue must be right."

Arwyn Owen, director of policy at the Farming Union of Wales, said, "We welcome ongoing research into vaccination because, if more effective vaccines are developed, it would obviously benefit the industry."